We’ve had a few road trips to France over recent years. The Pas-de-Calais and Côte d’Opale (Opal Coast) is easy to get to from the UK, either via Eurotunnel or ferry. Travelling in your own car certainly has its benefits, aside from the obvious packing highs, it makes camping and exploring that much easier. We’ve pulled together a round-up of our favoured places along the Opal Coast, some of which make good stop offs if you’re driving through France and neighbouring countries.
The Côte d’Opale (Opal Coast) is only 15 minutes drive from the Eurotunnel terminal. This French coastal region is situated opposite the cliffs of South East England, facing towards the English Channel. Extending over 120 kilometres, the coastline extends to the Belgian border. With sweeping landscapes, beautiful beaches and pretty seaside towns, it’s a great region to explore and not far from home soil.
Cap Blanc-Nez
Cap Blanc-Nez (white-nose cape in English) is one of the two large cliffs on the Côte d’Opale located between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. It’s situated around 15 kilometres from Calais in the Escalles province. Cap Blanc-Nez, and Cap Gris-Nez, are the closest points in France to England. On a clear day, you can even see the White Cliffs of Dover. At the top of Cap Blanc-Nez is the Dover Patrol Monument – an obelisk to commemorate the Dover Patrol who kept the Channel free from U-boats in WWI.
Cap Gris-Nez
Cap Gris-Nez (or grey nose cape in English), situated around 16 kilometres from Cap Blanc-Nez in the Audinghen commune, provides the perfect vantage point from which to see ships, tankers and trawlers. At the top are the ruins of an English fortress which was built in the 16th century by Henry the VIII. It can be a good place for fossil hunting too with many from the Jurassic period. In the hamlet of Haringzelles, just 4 kilometres from Cap Gris-Nez, is the Museum of the Atlantic Wall (or Batterie Todt) which was a battery of coastal artillery built by Germany in World War II. It once housed 380mm calibre Krupp guns capable of reaching the British coast.
Wissant
Situated in-between Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez is the pretty village of Wissant. We’ve stopped here a few times en route back to Calais as it’s only 22 kilometres from the terminal. Wissant, and Audresselles, are the last remaining fishing villages in France that use a flobart, which is a traditional wooden boat, for fishing. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants in Wissant – a top tip would be to arrive before midday if you’re stopping for lunch! Wissant is always a popular destination to visit, particularly during the summer as it’s a protected area with a beautiful white sandy beach which attracts families, windsurfers and surfers.
Ambleteuse
If you’re heading towards Boulogne-sur-Mer, it’s worth opting for the D940 coastal road rather than the A16 as you can stop at some pretty little villages along the way. Audresselles is a small fishing village with restaurants, fisherman’s houses and a pebble beach and not far from there is Ambleteuse. It was originally a hamlet of wooden huts between the sand dunes and used by Julius Caesar for the invasion of England in 54 BC. Fort Mahon (or Fort d’Ambleteuse), is an impressive sea fort built on the beach to defend the port in the estuary of the Slack.
Boulogne-sur-Mer
The beautiful town of Boulogne-sur-Mer in the heart of the Côte d’Opale is within easy reach of Calais. You can continue along the D940 coastal route or head straight there from Calais via the A16 in about 30 minutes. The pedestrianised centre of Boulogne-sur-Mer, between the old town and the port, is a great place to have a wander, do a little shopping or grab a bite. We particularly like Vieille Ville (the old town) which is enclosed by an ancient wall and ramparts built in the 13th century on the foundations of Gallo-Roman walls. One of the most prominent buildings in the old town, in Rue de Lille, is the Basilica of Notre Dame which has an 83-metre dome. The old town is home to the fortifications and castle, the Belfry and the largest medieval crypt in Northern Europe. There’s also the incredible Nausicaá which is the biggest aquarium in Europe with nearly 60,000 creatures including hammerhead sharks, manta rays and sea lions.
Le Touquet
Finally is the seaside town of Le Touquet, or Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, which came to prominence in the 1920’s. There’s plenty on offer here from the beach, watersports and Aqualud pool to horse riding, cycling and shopping. There’s also a market, and an array of restaurants, including the famous The Westminster and personal favourite Le Coq Hardi which is reasonable and cosy.
Do head over to the France section on POD Travels for more posts on France. If you’re thinking of heading further afield, do have a look at our Switzerland itinerary which was the camping trip we did last summer. We’ve also written about the amazing campsite we stayed at and there’s a review of our superb Vango tent.
